What's the best fingering for a high Bb above the staff? Is there one that is solid as well as in tune? We're playing Blue Lake, and the 1st horn part has a few of those where I'm supposed to be unison with the altos. Usually I can manage to hit it with T1, but not always. Is there another fingering that's more secure/ solid?

What brand and model horn are you playing?

I've been playing on my school's brand new Holton, which is a 375, I think. The original Farkas model(175) sound sooo much better than this one, but one of the slides on that horn that I was using broke and needs to be resouldered in order for it to gent properly in tune--my school has about eleven French horns with only five people who can play them, so I had a wide variety of horns to choose from when I got there two years ago.

I like Trigger 1.

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Umm, I don't really know of any other solid fingerings for up there...

T1 would probably be the safest bet. Practice more to get it out constantly! =)

The standard common fingering for high Bb is T1. And you should use it and practice using it. However, you are gettign ready for a performance and want to please the audience. Also a good horn player should know their alternate fingerings so they can change on the spot should they find themselves playing with someone who isn't in tune.

For the Holton you can use T3. You will find you hit the note more often. The issues with T1 is many player hit the high A and then slip up into the Bb. You will hit the Bb more often with T3, UNFORTUNATELY it will be sharp. So, if you know ahead of time it is going to be sharp play it flat intentionally and you will be in tune.

So for hitting the note more often it is T3, but for playing it in tune easier it is T1.

If you have a high Bb entry, then I would prefer to use a descant (or triple) horn for a secure entry.

Yes, in a perfect world it would be nice to have a specialty horn with the harmonics spaced farther apart. But since many people don't have the extra $6,000 you can substitute the T3, heck if you are doing many other notes using the 3rd Bb slide of your horn, you could pull it out and be in tune.Just remember to push it back in after that piece.

By using the T3 you are actually using the harmonic series of the G horn which is almost an entire octave series away from your F horn. It should give you enough security for an entrance.

But if you are rich enough and have time to learn get a Schmidt or Paxman Descant or Triple. And get a second one for me also.